MUH 260A - Jazz: Music, Race, and Culture

Jazz is a uniquely American art form, inextricably tied to the African American experience. Throughout its history, Jazz has variously, and often simultaneously, been defined as both revolutionary high art and mindless entertainment, as both dangerously subversive and sonic wallpaper for economic elites; a multiplicity of narratives that directly reflects the virtuosic code-switching always expected of people of color in this country. This course will examine this complex history, with an emphasis on the voices of Black musicians and writers, and place the aesthetic and intellectual achievements of Jazz music in their social, political, and cultural contexts. No previous experience with music is required, however, as a listening intensive class, open ears and minds are a must. Course Typically Offered: Every 2 years.

Prerequisite(s): None.

Credits: 4